Process for obtaining solutions of bacterial poisons.



most kinds of bacteria aqueous solutions cono'NrrE STATES PAl-ENToEEioE.

PETER RERGELL AND FRITZ MEYER, or BERLIN, GERMANY.

PROCESS FOR OBTAINING SOLUTIONS OF BACTERIAL POISONS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 29, 1907.

Application filed September 13, 1906. fierial No. 334,886.

To (ZZZ whom it'maycmwern:

Be it known that we, PETER BERGEL and FRITZ MEYER, subjects of theEmperor of ermany, and residents of Berlin, Germany, have-inventedcertain new anduseful Improvements in Processes for Obtaining Solutionsof Bacterial Poisons, of which the fol lowing is a specification.

With the known processes it has heretolore not been possible to obtainfrom the taming their specific toxin and being at the same time suitablefor immunifying purposes. While in the diphtheria-toxin we have a poisonwhich may at least in quantity be employed for immunifying purposes,such does not exist of other bacteria, as of the strepto-coccus, typhoidbacillus. The isolated solid toxines, too, known at present asdiphtheria and tetanus toxin, are known to contain several poisons ofalbue minous and albumose nature. I

According to experiments made by us for obtaining these products whichare so very sensitive with regard to the ordinary temperature andreagents, reactions may be employed in which anhydrous substances areemployed at very low temperatures. By this method the bodies ofbacteria, of which by the known processes no sufiiciently effectivesolutions could be obtained, undergo decomposition to such an extentthat they split off their specific poisons, which are taken up by thephysiological solution of chlorid of sodium, and other poisons aredecomposed so far that a part of the noxiously injurious poisons whichprevent immunization and endanger the life of the ani, mals serving forthe production of the serum is decomposed, while their immunizingcapacity is preserved. We observe that the treatment with anhydrousliquid hydrochloric acid, which, as known, boils at about 86 centigrade,aiiords a process to obtain the desired solutions. The process may beconsidered besides a simple decomposition as a partial conversion ofalbumen,

as liquid hydrochloric acid is used for splitting up albuminates intoalbuminous sub- .stances of less complicated chemical constitution.

Example 1:-A highly virulent streptococcus culture is separated in thecentrifuge with a physiological solution of chlorid of sodium and thendried in a vacuum. Over the dried and ground substance dry gases ofhydrochloric acid are conducted which are cooled by means of liquid air.,After the acid has had time to act it is allowed to evaporate, carebeing taken that the process proceeds in the absence of water. Now thesubstance is mixed with physiological solution of chlorid of sodium andseparated by centrifuges and filtered off by Berckefeld filters. Theoperations must be carried out under strict sterilization. The solutionsproduce on various kinds of animals intravenous and introperitonealintoxications, which are analogous to strepto-coccus infections, butoccur only more rapidly, proceed quantitatively, and show an absence ofbacteria. An immunifying liquid is produced.

Example 2: Of four equally strong white mice on November 10, 1905, mouseNo. 1 received a subcutaneous injection of one and one-tenth doses oflive typhoid bacilli, a dose being a drop taken out by means of aplatinum loop such as are commonly used in bacteriology a one tenth partof such a drop is obtained by diluting one drop to ten times its volumeand taking another drop with the platinum loop of the diluted culture;mouse No. 2, 0.2 cubic centimeters of a filtrated bouillon culture oftyphoid; mouse No. 3, 0.2 of a plain extraction of dry typhoid bacilli;mouse No. 4, 0.2 cubic centimeters of asolution obtained according tothe abovedescribed process from an equal quantity of bacilli. Mouse No.5 and No. 6 serve as controlling animals. On November 18 mice No. 16 areinfected with 0.1 cubic centimeters of a virulent typhoid bouillon. OnNovember 19 mice No. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 are dead, while mouse No. 4 is stillalive. The experiment corresponds with the above explanations.

Having now described our invention, What We claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. The process of producing solutions of bacteria poisons adapted forimmunization consisting in treating dry bacteria poisons With anhydrousliquid hydrochloric acid, evaporating the acid and extracting theproduct.

2. The process of producing aqueous solutions of bacteria poisonscontaining the specific toxin and adapted for immunization consisting intreating dry bacteria poisons with anhydrous liquid hydrochloric acid,evaporating the acid, and extracting the product.

Signed at Berlin,v Germany, this 31st day of August, 1906.

' PETER BERGELL.

FRITZ MEYER. Witnesses:

HENRY HASPER, WOLDEMAR I-IAUPT.

